A scrappy fighter from Jersey City named Tommy Shea -- "born in a dump, educated in an alley" -- catches the eye of wealthy businessman, Robert Mallinson, who allows him to train at his Long Island estate. Shea soon falls for Mallinson's daughter, Dorothy, but fears he doesn't have the money to support her in proper style. To get this money, Shea decides to work with crooked fight-promoter Harry Cram, even though this means dropping his honest manager, Dave Bernstein. As the big fight approaches, however, Shea begins to have second thoughts.

Un boxeur plein de talent et d'avenir est tenté d'accepter un combat truqué, afin de gagner assez d'argent lui permettant d'épouser sa fiancée. A la dernière minute, il change d'avis.

Un luchador de Jersey City llamado Tommy Shea, "nacido en un basurero, educado en un callejón", llama la atención del rico hombre de negocios Robert Mallinson, quien le permite entrenar en su propiedad de Long Island. Shea pronto se enamora de la hija de Mallinson, Dorothy, pero teme que él no tenga el dinero para mantenerla con el estilo adecuado. Para conseguir este dinero, Shea decide trabajar con el corrupto promotor de peleas Harry Cram, aunque esto signifique abandonar a su honesto manager, Dave Bernstein. Sin embargo, a medida que se acerca la gran pelea, Shea comienza a tener dudas.